This Sunday, we’re heading to the southeast of Tuscany for a day at Paolo and his wife Alba’s place, who are cousins of our owner Erminia. I’m practically bursting with excitement at the thought of visiting Paolo! It promises delicious snacks on the horizon… and of course, I’m bringing along Erminia’s birthday gift, a meat-scented chew toy that I never part with.
Off we go for an hour-long drive through the beautiful Tuscan hills…
After crossing the town of Castell’Azzarra, known for its truffles, we arrived in the early afternoon near Montevitozzo.
Their home is nestled in a small hamlet perched on a hill, surrounded by the soothing sound of cicadas. The setting was idyllic: breathtaking views of the Tuscan hills, a gentle breeze carrying the scent of cypress and olive trees, and an enchanting silence…
However, one encounter was less than warm. I almost made an Italian friend, Bela… but she had quite a temper. As soon as I tried to say hello, she started barking at me as if I were the mailman. I retreated and hid in the car, much to the amusement of the humans. I didn’t find it funny…
Paolo prepared us a feast worthy of an Italian chef. Just listen to these dish names… they whisper to our senses the aromatic symphonies and secrets of Tuscan cuisine. ‘Torti alla Grappa, Gamberetti in Velluto su un Letto di Zucchine’ – Grappa-infused Torti pasta with velvet-like shrimp on a bed of zucchini, followed by ‘Bouquet di fiori di zucchina farciti in sonata di mozzarella e acciughe’ – a bouquet of zucchini flowers stuffed with mozzarella and anchovies.
Unfortunately, my human, too busy devouring the meal, took no photos of the dishes. He’s quite cheeky for calling me a greedy guts! However, he did manage to snap a photo of the grappa bottle.
After a delicious Italian espresso to end the meal (what else?), we went to pick lavender in the garden. The fragrance was enchanting! I chased after butterflies and grasshoppers despite the heat, with Bela continuing to bark at me, despite my belief that I had a certain charm…
No nap for me this time; we set off to explore Sorano (stay tuned for the article here). It was my first time in the city, and I was as stressed as my human, who hadn’t been there in ages either.
This day will be etched in my memory with all its aromas, flavors, adventures, and new friends.
A big thank you to Alba, Paolo, Erminia, and Laura, who connected us.
Ah Ah, mon beau Mana, ta mésaventure avec la chienne Bela m’a fait pensé aux paroles de la chanson de Me GIMS “Bella”. PapAïto a le verbe joli, un poète et un philosophe, le Seb : la Toscane avec sa gastronomie, ses paysages, ses senteurs et ses nouveaux amis conviviaux et épicuriens l’inspirent,… Je connaissais les beignets de fleurs de courgettes de feu mon amie Nathalie Zironi à Carqueiranne mais les farcis m’ont l’air savoureux. Ce merveilleux repas m’a mis l’eau à la bouche. ça fait plaisir de voir que vous êtes tombés sur une super propriétaire et que les italiens ont le don de l’intégration, la familia, …
Oui, Erminia est extra ainsi que ses cousins. Mana les adore également. Tu as une version française sur le blog 🙂